Wretch Collection

People thrown into poverty pawning their belongings, Portugal, 17th Century (colour litho)
8672968 People thrown into poverty pawning their belongings, Portugal, 17th Century (colour litho) by Gameiro, Alfredo Roque (1864-1935); Private Collection; (add.info)

Beggars (pencil on paper)
8683483 Beggars (pencil on paper) by Bonzagni, Aroldo (1887-1918); Assicoop-Unipol Collection, Modena, Emilia Romagna, Italy; (add.info.: "Beggars", by Aroldo Bonzagni (1887 - 1918)

Fisher's Alley (or Fisher Lane): animation of the inhabitants, northwest of the King Charles Court of Greenwich
MMM5457557 Fisher's Alley (or Fisher Lane): animation of the inhabitants, northwest of the King Charles Court of Greenwich Hospital (the current site of Greenwich Pier), London

Fables: popular print from the half of the 19th century illustrating the fable of Hans Christian Andersen "The
FGL5466480 Fables: popular print from the half of the 19th century illustrating the fable of Hans Christian Andersen "The Little Matchman".; Fototeca Gilardi.

Pious Image: Portrait of St. Anthony of Padua (Antonio di Padova, 1195-1231)
FGL5491015 Pious Image: Portrait of St. Anthony of Padua (Antonio di Padova, 1195-1231) with the child Jesus in the arms gives bread to the poor

Mockery of a beggar's wedding, French engraving, 1850
UIG5414709 Mockery of a beggar's wedding, French engraving, 1850; UIG.

The friendless lad sat on the step thinking sadly of tomorrow (colour litho)
8644935 The friendless lad sat on the step thinking sadly of tomorrow (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

And now I suppose you're going to tell me that the last one's gone
8663967 And now I suppose you're going to tell me that the last one's gone and there isn't another until next Thursday (litho) by Pont (Graham Laidler) (1908-40)

A house
DUV4217244 A house; 31x24 cm; (add.info.: I can read (Methodic and fun alphabet by a dad) - abecedary comprising a reading method and an illustrious alphabet); Photo © Duvallon.

A wanderer
DUV4217098 A wanderer; 31x24 cm; (add.info.: I can read (Methodic and fun alphabet by a dad) - abecedary comprising a reading method and an illustrious alphabet); Photo © Duvallon.

The lifeboat 'Quiver' at Margate Kent, 1850
3331036 The lifeboat 'Quiver' at Margate Kent, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the lifeboat 'Quiver' at Margate Kent being launched to go to help a ship in danger)

Art. Entertaiment. The singer Eugenie Buffet at the cabaret La Cigale, Paris
3434490 Art. Entertaiment. The singer Eugenie Buffet at the cabaret La Cigale, Paris. Poster by Luc Metivet, France, c.1895 (poster); (add.info.: Art. Spectacle. Coll. Part. Art. Entertaiment)

A man using a winged projectile carrying a line from shore to a ship in distress, 1850
3359104 A man using a winged projectile carrying a line from shore to a ship in distress, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of a man using a winged projectile carrying a line from shore to a ship in)

A shipwrecked sailors being rescued by the Volunteer Life Brigade, 1850
3330611 A shipwrecked sailors being rescued by the Volunteer Life Brigade, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a shipwrecked sailors being rescued by the Volunteer Life Brigade)

Letter P: Poor
DUV4217007 Letter P: Poor; 31x24 cm; (add.info.: I can read (Methodic and fun alphabet by a dad) - abecedary comprising a reading method and an illustrious alphabet); Photo © Duvallon.

A man in distress over his finances. By Frederick Walker (1840-1875) an English social realist painter and illustrator
5615965 A man in distress over his finances. By Frederick Walker (1840-1875) an English social realist painter and illustrator. 1882 (engraving); Universal History Archive/UIG.

A young girl looking after her old mother, 1887 (illustration)
ELD4835149 A young girl looking after her old mother, 1887 (illustration); Private Collection; (add.info.: A young girl, Jeanne Parelle)

Music. Classical music. La boheme, opera in four acts by Giacomo Puccini. Imagery, France, c.1900 (postcard)
3433691 Music. Classical music. La boheme, opera in four acts by Giacomo Puccini. Imagery, France, c.1900 (postcard); (add.info.: La Boheme, opera de Puccini (1896). Imagerie, France, debut 20eme

Music. Hop O' my Thumb. Cover for a score by Boutet de Monvel, France, 1896. (poster)
3434488 Music. Hop O' my Thumb. Cover for a score by Boutet de Monvel, France, 1896. (poster); (add.info.: Coll. Part. Music. Hop O' my Thumb)

Religion. Catholic Religion. Saint Martin of Tours share his cloak. Miniature, France, XIVth cent. Bibl
3434347 Religion. Catholic Religion. Saint Martin of Tours share his cloak. Miniature, France, XIVth cent. Bibl. Mazarine, Paris.; (add.info.: Religion. Religion catholique. Miniature, France, 14eme)

A man using a winged projectile carrying a line from shore to a ship in distress, 1850
3359101 A man using a winged projectile carrying a line from shore to a ship in distress, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of a man using a winged projectile carrying a line from shore to a ship in)

A rider bringing news of a ship in distress, 1850
3331033 A rider bringing news of a ship in distress, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a rider bringing news of a ship in distress to Penzance. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

A woman and her baby after being shipwrecked, 1850
3331019 A woman and her baby after being shipwrecked, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of a woman and her baby after being shipwrecked. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

A father in despair being comforted by his daughter, 1850
3478166 A father in despair being comforted by his daughter, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a father in despair being comforted by his daughter)

Two Neapolitan children devour spaghetti with their hands, sitting on the sidewalk
FGL5474132 Two Neapolitan children devour spaghetti with their hands, sitting on the sidewalk. Postcard from the beginning of the 20th century.; Fototeca Gilardi.

The widow Vignon and an old crippled woman, 1887 (illustration)
ELD4835112 The widow Vignon and an old crippled woman, 1887 (illustration); Private Collection; (add.info.: The widow Vignon, mattress carder, and an old crippled woman she cares)

A soup kitchen in St Mary's Hall for the distressed ribbon weavers. 1861 (engraving)
5615907 A soup kitchen in St Mary's Hall for the distressed ribbon weavers. 1861 (engraving); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Capital letters Plate in "Picturesque alphabet or New informative and picturesque alphabet", 1892 (engraving)
DUV4220563 Capital letters Plate in "Picturesque alphabet or New informative and picturesque alphabet", 1892 (engraving); 27x17.5 cm; (add.info)

A father in despair being comforted by his daughter, 1850
3478163 A father in despair being comforted by his daughter, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a father in despair being comforted by his daughter)

The Heroine of a Fishing Village, 1850
3330817 The Heroine of a Fishing Village, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving titled 'The Heroine of a Fishing Village'. Depicted is a young girl warning of a ship which is in distress)

A cannon for firing winged projectile carrying a line from shore to a ship in distress, 1850
3331166 A cannon for firing winged projectile carrying a line from shore to a ship in distress, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of a cannon for firing winged projectile carrying a line from shore to a)

Family evicted from their home (b/w photo)
8672189 Family evicted from their home (b/w photo) by European Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Family evicted from their home)

Sign of a Master Mason and Grand Hailing sign of distress (engraving)
8673088 Sign of a Master Mason and Grand Hailing sign of distress (engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Bringing News of Relief to Florence (colour litho)
8661454 Bringing News of Relief to Florence (colour litho) by Topham, Francis William (1808-77) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Bringing News of Relief to Florence)

The return of the sailor, interior of the cottage: bedroom, with the wife and mother lying in bed
MMM5460114 The return of the sailor, interior of the cottage: bedroom, with the wife and mother lying in bed, the only furniture in the room, with bare brick walls by Wheatley

The Death of a Stingy - Cover of "The Eye of the Police", 1911 (engraving)
ICA4949984 The Death of a Stingy - Cover of "The Eye of the Police", 1911 (engraving); Private Collection; Photo © Caricadoc.

A winged projectile carrying a line from shore to a ship in distress, 1850
3359102 A winged projectile carrying a line from shore to a ship in distress, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of a winged projectile carrying a line from shore to a ship in distress)

A cannon for firing winged projectile carrying a line from shore to a ship in distress, 1850
3359103 A cannon for firing winged projectile carrying a line from shore to a ship in distress, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of a cannon for firing winged projectile carrying a line from shore to a)

Art. "The old poet". Artist and bohemian life in an attic. Illustration by Carl Spizweg, Allemagne
3433997 Art. "The old poet". Artist and bohemian life in an attic. Illustration by Carl Spizweg, Allemagne, c.1900 (postcard); (add.info.: Art. Coll. Part. Art. "The old poet")

Poor family spend a desperate Christmas together, 1893 (engraving)
3478773 Poor family spend a desperate Christmas together, 1893 (engraving); (add.info.: Poor family spend a desperate Christmas together, 1893.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Piraten In Seenot / Pirates in Distress (colour litho)
8666133 Piraten In Seenot / Pirates in Distress (colour litho) by Christophe (Colomb, Georges) (1856-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: Piraten In Seenot)

Wounded Russian soldiers, Manchuria, Russo-Japanese War, 1904 (litho)
8655581 Wounded Russian soldiers, Manchuria, Russo-Japanese War, 1904 (litho) by Woodville, Richard Caton II (1856-1927) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Wounded Russian soldiers, Manchuria)

Giant Despair Beats the Pilgrims, and leaves them to Mourn under their Distress (engraving)
8673624 Giant Despair Beats the Pilgrims, and leaves them to Mourn under their Distress (engraving) by Watson, James Dawson (1832-92); Private Collection; (add.info)

Sea Adventure: The Deal lugger (colour litho)
8668758 Sea Adventure: The Deal lugger (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Deal lugger)

Distributing soup in front of a monastery in Vienna, Austria, historic engraving of 1883
UIG5414139 Distributing soup in front of a monastery in Vienna, Austria, historic engraving of 1883; UIG.

An engraving depicting a woman grieving by Arthur Hughes (1831-1915) an English painter and illustrator, 19th century
5311135 An engraving depicting a woman grieving by Arthur Hughes (1831-1915) an English painter and illustrator, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1853); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Medicine. Psychology. The influence of education on the human countenance. Poster, England, c.1880 (poster)
3434517 Medicine. Psychology. The influence of education on the human countenance. Poster, England, c.1880 (poster); (add.info.: Medecine. Psychologie. Coll. Part. Medicine. Psychology)

A French seaman discovering Samphire, 1850
3478497 A French seaman discovering Samphire, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a French seaman discovering Samphire)

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In the midst of chaos and despair, the wretch finds solace in his crutches. Outside, he sits forlornly, a beggar seeking compassion amidst the Congo Democratic Republic Of The North Kivu Conflict. His eyes tell tales of suffering and loss, reflecting the horrors that surround him. As we delve into history's dark chapters, we stumble upon "The abduction of Jennie, " a litho capturing a moment frozen in time. A damsel in distress yearns for rescue from her captors, just like Perseus rescuing Andromeda centuries ago. Bronze immortalizes their tale of bravery against all odds. "The Disasters of War: No Llegan a Tiempo (They Come Too Late)" depicts fortified water failing to reach those who need it most. In this haunting image from 1906, desperation lingers as hope slips away. Legends come alive through art; St George battles ferociously against the dragon while innocent lives are lost in "The Massacre of the Innocents. " Pencil strokes etch sorrow onto paper as Captain Burney discovers his murdered shipmates on Cook's voyages. Amidst these somber scenes emerges an unexpected ray of light - "J'aime le vin, je fais l'amour (Vieille Ariette): Guilty Childhood. " This back cover illustration from L'Assiette au Beurre magazine transports us to September 1908 with its whimsical charm and innocence juxtaposed against darker realities. Jean Calas stands accused; a Calvinist merchant caught up in accusations of murder portrayed through colored engravings. Meanwhile, "The Execution of the First Council Berdyansk" paints a chilling picture on canvas depicting power's ruthless grip over justice. Within these hints lies humanity's capacity for both cruelty and resilience. The wretch symbolizes not only one man but also countless others facing adversity throughout history – reminding us to seek compassion and strive for a better world.